CNBC And CNN Give The Tesla S Rave Reviews — But Both Mention The Same Glaring Concernhttp://www.businessinsider.com/cnbc-and-cnn-tesla-model-s-review-2013-2/comments
en-usWed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500Tue, 03 Mar 2015 16:28:29 -0500Rob Wilehttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/512bd3b8eab8ea8612000001Jason FreedmanMon, 25 Feb 2013 16:12:24 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512bd3b8eab8ea8612000001
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but you should at least know that Tesla's battery pack IS in fact a stress bearing member (it is the floor of the car). While the motor is not "in wheel" as you say, it is taking the area between the two rear wheels.
While it sort of has a transmission, it is a 1-speed transmission. I'm not sure how you get out of having some sort of system that takes the very high RPM's of an electric motor and transfers the energy to a useful speed to move wheels. You can call that something other than a transmission, but...
I am not confident of in-wheel motors, but am pretty impressed with Tesla's design. Also, the AC inverter creating a motor having no permanent magnets makes a big difference and is quite efficient.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512bd09469beddb92b000003Jason FreedmanMon, 25 Feb 2013 15:59:00 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512bd09469beddb92b000003
which "inventor of the Prius" are you talking about? Toyota has an all-electric car or two (based on Tesla's technology, of which it is an investor). The number 1 fuel at electric plants is NOT oil. Not even close. It's coal, but in many parts of the US that isn't close to 1/2 of the source for electricity. Besides with a Tesla, you can get solar on your roof to power the thing. Then you are completely off the grid.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512bcfb3eab8eaf202000006Jason FreedmanMon, 25 Feb 2013 15:55:15 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512bcfb3eab8eaf202000006
With Tesla's superchargers, it is 30 minutes to recharge to 180 Miles of range from 0. Not exactly a 3-4 hour wait. And Tesla is announcing an upgrade to the supercharger network in the next few months that promises shorter charging times. Having said that, today with the lack of infrastructure and the need to take a 30-60 minute break every 200-250 miles, I'd say that the Model S is not quite ready for long trips without compromise. For 90% of people's travel, it is absolutely ready and you never need to stop at a gas station or get the oil changed again.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5128aae2ecad047636000002Ovidiu SandruSat, 23 Feb 2013 06:41:22 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5128aae2ecad047636000002
An exclusive interview with the man himself on the Model S, low temperatures and future improvements to the Tesla cars: <a href="http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2013/02/23/model-s-cold-weather-elon-musk-interview/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2013/02/23/model-s-cold-weather-elon-musk-interview/</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5128831aecad04456700000cHenrik Mikael KristensenSat, 23 Feb 2013 03:51:38 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5128831aecad04456700000c
I believe the big move will happen with rising oil prices, not how accessible or energy abundant oil is.
When the price goes up too far, oil as a fuel will cease to be an option for most people.
You are mentioning many methods for generating electricity yourself; There are simply many more ways to do that, than getting fossil fuels, including as locally as solar panels on your own roof, and some EV owners do this. The base line for getting an EV to move is simply far lower than for getting an ICE vehicle to move. We just don't notice the huge amount of money and work it takes to get gas in the pumps.
So, even though many of us can't or won't switch to EVs now, it makes sense to prepare, because there is a lot of technological development to come for EVs and Tesla are taking the main strides, which others should follow.
In the long run, renewables like, wind, solar and hydro may be outcompeted by various nuclear options, such as LENR, Thorium or Polywell fusion.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51273be4ecad040a76000024robert gillespieFri, 22 Feb 2013 04:35:32 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51273be4ecad040a76000024
HERE'S "YOUR FUTURE!'
ever see the "typical tire inflation AIR PUMP" at your local gas station...THE ONE YOU PUT QUARTERS IN TO GET AIR (I so that at HESS...their air inflator is free and digital...thanks HESS.L..)
SO: IN THE FUTURE...
MULTIPLE CHARGING outlet charging kiosks in places like:
McDonalds, Burger-King, WALMART...(getting the picture here???...)
so WHILE I'M at the seven-eleven...or McDonalds, etc. ...WHILE I'M HAVING 1/2 HOUR LUNCH...I'LL BE CHARGING FOR 1/2 HOUR...(a few dollars/quarters, etc.)
and GET ANOTHER 150 MILES of traveling charge...for a few dollars INSTEAD OF 25 DOLLARS for the equivalent GASOLINE... see HOW SIMPLE "ALL THIS IS!!!"
probably WILL BE DOING THIS ...about the time of the NEXT ELECTION in two years...WHEN I'LL BE VOTING TO "point those FOOT-DRAGGIN' CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS...to the "EXIT DOOR" ...along with THEIR GAS GUZZLING "LOBBY BUDDIES"...
THE WRITING "IS ON THE WALL"...for those WHO THINK THEY CAN HOLD UP PROGRESS...because of "their vested interests...
flashrobhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5127369569bedd3739000005robert gillespieFri, 22 Feb 2013 04:12:53 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5127369569bedd3739000005
in the REAL WORLD...
a. I live in Jersey...and if I'm going to visit my relatives in Texas...well I did that ONCE by car...
REAL WORLD COST:
a. say about 20mph...for 1600 miles...COST ME ABOUT 320 DOLLARS in GAS
plus 4 night in motels...another 320 DOLLARS (about 80. per night)
b. .20 per mile DEVALUATION on car per Edmunds...for a fairly new car in good shape...THAT'S ANOTHER 320. dollars...
c. SO TOTAL COST OF DRIVING TO TEXAS...approaches 1000. DOLLARS to do that trip (not to mention time/eat out meals, etc.)
d. AIR FARE ON SOUTHWEST ...about 200. one way (remember the round trip is DOUBLING ALL THIS...
E. DO THE "MATH!"
the trip cost me me about 2000. by driving (even if I rented a car for the week in Texas...which I didn't HAVE TO DO ...as my brother had spare cars for me to use while I was visiting...but even if I had rented a car for the week 300-500...)
cost to drive with rental at destination for a week...400. airfare... 400...car rental...TOTAL 800.
DRIVING: 4000. ...DO THE MATH!!!
so, I DON'T USE CAR FOR VACATION TRAVEL...yes, a "minority percentage" MIGHT...but if YOU CAN AFFORD TO WASTE THE GAS...
not to mention: YOU CAN PLUG CAR IN TO "REGULAR ELEC SOCKET"...so I'm not worried about RECHARGING STATIONS...I'LL FLIP SOMEONE TWENTY...and use their ELEC OUTLET for 1/2 an hour...and BE ON MY WAY...IF I NEEDED TO DO THAT...(so basically I just need a HOME ELEC...HI AMP EXTENSION CORD...I just bought a 100 footer for 39. dollars for my portable generator...
oh. I can throw my 2000 watt portable camping generator IN CAR, TOO...stop and get a few gallons of gas...IF I WANT TO MAKE ALL THIS WORK...
anyone WHO CAN AFFORD A 65-80 THOUSAND DOLLAR CAR...the COST IS NEGLIGABLE TO DO THIS LITTLE BIT of working OUTSIDE THE BOX...(thinking, get it...)
where I SAVE BIG TIME IS: not ROUTINELY SPENDING 4 DOLLARS A GAL FOR GAS DAILY...
you CAN SAVE THOUSANDS PER YEAR IN COSTS by doing this...plus the environment, etc.
flashrobhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/51272bf469bedd6e1d000010robert gillespieFri, 22 Feb 2013 03:27:32 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51272bf469bedd6e1d000010
this is a NO BRAINER...
a. first: the car is in the same PRICE RANGE as the higher-end models of bmw/mercedes...so it's RIDICULOUS TO ACT LIKE YOU HAVE TO RECOVER huge expenses because the car is so expensive...NONSENSE.
b. Oh, those batteries will have to be replaced...UNFAIR NONSENSE COMPARISON AGAIN...what about the TRANS/ENGINE...whatever of your bmw/mercedes...EVER GO TO THE DEALER FOR THAT...MUCHO BUCKS IT IS...so the bmw/mercedes IS FAR MORE EXPENSIVE FOR "TOTAL COST" etc.
c. a TWO HUNDRED MILE TRIP ...will cost YOU ABOUT 40 DOLLARS FOR GASOLINE...even in the HIGH PERFORMANCE TESLA...the COST "IS ONLY ABOUT 5 DOLLARS...
some of you must be taking "stupid pills" PROBABLY DISGRUNTLED "ROMNEY" VOTERS...
not to mention O pollution !!! (here that Calif)
I'll get the wall charger off standard ELEC SOCKED...myself...
AND IN THE REAL WORLD... I RENT A CAR WHEN I GO ON THESE "VACATION" TRIPS...SO I'LL USE THE "GAS BURNER" for that...let RENTAL CARS take the dirt/damage/risk...
I DON'T DRIVE "OVER A HUNDRED MILES A DAY normally during COMMUTER WORK WEEK....so plugging IT IN TO THE "normal elec outlet" FOR 1/2 HOUR TO GET 150...is "PLENTY!"
WAKE UP! ...IT'S OVER FOR BIG/OIL AND THEIR GAS-GUZZLER PARADIGM...that's what this IS REALLY "ALL ABOUT."
we WILL get rid of the gas-guzzlers...JUST LIKE WE "ARE GETTING RID OF THE STUPID REPUBLICANS who REFUSE to "wake the hell up!"
flashrobhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/512672f669bedd385e000011lawsuits came with the horseless carriageThu, 21 Feb 2013 14:18:15 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512672f669bedd385e000011
The horse & buggy drivers said "I'm suing the b*stard driving that horseless carriage for scaring my horses".
True.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51264e1269bedd877f000004ChrisThu, 21 Feb 2013 11:40:50 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51264e1269bedd877f000004
I'm not saying we should kill electric cars. I think the technology is interesting. But I don't see any value in being a first adopter of this technology. Best to wait until the costs come down and the infrastructure is built up. Yes, electricity production may well shift to greener alternatives, but wind and sun will never be the saving grace that environmentalists and green activists think it will. Considering the huge amount of energy packed into the decaying biomass of millions of plants that have been pressurized and heated to become oil and coal, sun and wind power just can't compete. Perhaps with nanotechnology and nuclear reactive engines, the future will be cleaner. But that's a long, long way off. We have more to worry about China and rising foreign powers than we do about ourselves. I for one don't worry much about the environment. It looks fine to me from here in San Diego.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5126199969bedd1977000007Henrik Mikael KristensenThu, 21 Feb 2013 07:56:57 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5126199969bedd1977000007
> Some sort of a device which can provide high-current electrical power and can be as easily refueled/refilled as current vehicles.
That could be a supercapacitor. Super capacitors don't have the capacity of a lithium ion battery, but it can be charged in seconds and deliver the energy back very quickly as well, and it can handle upwards of a half a million to a million charge cycles and has generally a longer life span.
Supercapacitors are already in use in some small ferries and in some trains for regenerative braking.
Elon Musk himself has also said that he believes supercapacitors may take over from batteries in future EVs.
The challenge is then to make a power delivery system that can won't melt the plug, if you want to charge your car in under 1 minute. :-)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51261585ecad04495100001bHenrik Mikael KristensenThu, 21 Feb 2013 07:39:33 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51261585ecad04495100001b
1. Drill for oil somewhere on the planet.
2. Transport oil to refinery in large tanker ships that run on high polluting, low quality bunker oil.
3. Refine oil to gasoline using electricity.
4. Transport gasoline in trucks powered by gasoline or diesel to gas stations.
5. Use 15-25% of the energy in gasoline to move car forward. Dump the rest in mechanical friction, heat, wind resistance and idling.
Which one is more green?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51261252ecad04b148000028Henrik Mikael KristensenThu, 21 Feb 2013 07:25:54 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51261252ecad04b148000028
Of course you have to think forward a bit:
Producing electricity is likely to shift to green alternatives over the coming decades and with more EVs on the streets, this change could accelerate as Tesla are doing it with the superchargers.
Even in the current state, charging an EV with the dirtiest coal plant is still much cleaner than putting fuel in an ICE vehicle due to centralized and sophisticated pollution filtering and much higher efficiency of the coal plant.
In the future state of using pure renewables, ICE vehicles can't go there at all. It's just not an option.
Finally, It comes down to improving the air quality in cities and removing pollution related illness.
Hence, to denounce EVs now is to kill the goose before it produces its golden egg.
Patience.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512592c4eab8ea781900001dR ColemanWed, 20 Feb 2013 22:21:40 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512592c4eab8ea781900001d
When the iPhone first came out numerous reviewers at the time were certain that a change from the push buttons then prevalent on all phones to the virtual keyboard of the iPhone would be a problem for iPhone adoption. Change anxiety because it was something new.
First time reviewers of electric cars almost all mention range anxiety. However if you read what EV owners say, this disappears in a week as they learn to trust what the car is telling them and how to respond to it. So for them range anxiety is no more an issue than the lack of buttons on an iPhone. Pundits who continue to focus on the change anxiety of first time EV drivers, and fail to notice how actual EV owners are using their cars fail to see that range in a Tesla is simply not an issue.
Business people who fail to understand what a game changer the Tesla is risk being left behind as the market moves ahead. Just ask Nokia.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512552f96bb3f7525b000009AlexSandroscobWed, 20 Feb 2013 17:49:29 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512552f96bb3f7525b000009
National Geographic HD - Tesla Model S : youtu.be/NAxtOwo8S8whttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/51254fe369bedde013000008Michael KaylorWed, 20 Feb 2013 17:36:19 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51254fe369bedde013000008
I wonder if the old horse & buggy folks said the same thing when the first automobiles appeared on the scene, "What happens when you run out of gas". Well, maybe Elon and his team need to add a second emergency battery back up system, much like the idiot lights on our cars today--only make the battery back up last a little longer until there are 'electric stations' on every corner.
Just an idea....http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125497169bedd517e00001bNigel HarrisWed, 20 Feb 2013 17:08:49 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125497169bedd517e00001b
Come on, people, there's a RAILWAY between DC and Boston. It takes less than 7 hours, during which you can read or work or sleep. Why would you want to drive in a car?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512542346bb3f7d23c000005sports docWed, 20 Feb 2013 16:37:56 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512542346bb3f7d23c000005
Totally agree. Most people seem to just want to knock Tesla and the road to innovation that it's on. I mean already car of the year by Motortrend is nothing short of amazing. That alone increased my interest and awarenes many times over. This is not for mainstream like a civic or camry...it's a luxury car with a superior driving experience that won a big award. Mainstream cars generally don't win car of the year???http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125393069bedd715500000dToddRLockwoodWed, 20 Feb 2013 15:59:28 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125393069bedd715500000d
I think Tesla's Supercharger approach is brilliant. Other EV manufacturers are sitting around waiting for someone else to build the charging infrastructure. Tesla built it into their business model. They can afford to do so because they're not giving away 30% of their revenue to a franchise dealer network.
As I mentioned in my first post, long-distance trips will represent less than 5% of the driving people do in a Model S. And for the time being, most owners also own a gas car they can use in situations where it's the most practical solution.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51253349ecad047a2b00001ejolyyjonaWed, 20 Feb 2013 15:34:17 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51253349ecad047a2b00001e
Correct. EVs are currently not a practical car for street parkers, or those without their own garage. But that's OK. Tesla needn't worry to much about that demographic just yet. They can be entirely successful appealing to those with garages, which still represent a large % of people in this country.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512532caecad045f2d000010Energy CostsWed, 20 Feb 2013 15:32:10 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512532caecad045f2d000010
.
Cost of electric vehicles are front-loaded into the vehicle where-as internal combustion engine vehicles have a reduced initial cost with energy costs on a pay-as-you-go basis.
An individual should do their own cost analysis.
Charging electric vehicles overnight will initially be less expensive with the "off-peak" electricity rates but if overnight demand increases so will the rates.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512532b769bedd4b4c000001jolyyjonaWed, 20 Feb 2013 15:31:51 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512532b769bedd4b4c000001
Good point, but this anxiety is already at a extremely low minimum. Why? Because pretty much everyday you pull out of your garage with your Model S, it's already fully charged! Imagine that convenience in a traditional ICE car? And considering we don't drive more than 265 miles most days (unless for planned road trips) range anxiety is virtually non-existence on the Model S. People keep overlooking this fact.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512530eeeab8ea1a45000009RogerWed, 20 Feb 2013 15:24:14 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512530eeeab8ea1a45000009
> You can put the first 150 miles in the car in 30 minutes. ...
>...So planned charging stops could be in the area of 30 minutes, not 60.
True. But for only half the distance. The total elapsed time for a long trip is still the same. In fact, it's probably more because now you're making twice as many stops.
> And by the way, the $10 charge is for charging at home.
> The Superchargers are free.
While that may be the "introductory offer", I don't see it as a sustainable business model. Not unless they only plan on selling a few hundred units nation-wide. And we still come back to the point of how many vehicles can be serviced at one time. If you're only charging enough to make it to the next station, and that station has five units all in use when you get there, you're stuck. 30 minutes for them to finish, 30 for you to half-charge. You've now spent an hour waiting and you're only going to get 150 miles of use. Plus, those five people that were ahead of you are _still_ ahead of you at the next station and you're stuck waiting again.
Current owners may be saying they'll never go back right now, but the first time they have to sit in a 30-60 minute line for an away-from-home charge, they may start questioning that choice.
Now, please don't get me wrong - Some sort of electric vehicle is the ultimate future. But I'm more inclined to believe it will incorporate something similar to a hydrogen fuel cell. Some sort of a device which can provide high-current electrical power and can be as easily refueled/refilled as current vehicles.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51252e78eab8ea2d3f00000eOil is the #1 Fuel Powering Electric PlantsWed, 20 Feb 2013 15:13:44 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51252e78eab8ea2d3f00000e
Agree that at this point "hybrid" is the way to go, but the inventor of the Prius hybrid says electric battery-only is too limited and that the fuel cell is the next step and he and Toyota are working to perfect it now.
Why would the oil companies be against electric cars?
The number one fuel used at electricity plants IS OIL, then comes Coal, then NatGas which is also drilled by "oil" companies.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512524b1ecad046615000004ToddRLockwoodWed, 20 Feb 2013 14:32:01 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512524b1ecad046615000004
Roger, the Model S actually charges faster during the first half of a fillup. You can put the first 150 miles in the car in 30 minutes. The remainder takes longer. Since Tesla intends to locate Superchargers at 150 mile intervals, the Model S will not need a complete charge to make it to the next one. (The 200 mile spacing on the Washington/Boston route is temporary.) So planned charging stops could be in the area of 30 minutes, not 60. And by the way, the $10 charge is for charging at home. The Superchargers are free.
If you make a straight comparison to a gas car, of course there will be tradeoffs. But the Model S also brings new advantages to the table, not found in any gas car. New Model S owners are discovering this, and many of them say they will never go back to gas.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125220a6bb3f7ae7b000015so 2012Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:20:42 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125220a6bb3f7ae7b000015
you know that your pr overlords will be very disappointed you didn't bother to read that this is from CNBC & CNN making their assessments of the "range anxiety" a lot more mainstream than just henryhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/512521aaeab8eabe24000001RogerWed, 20 Feb 2013 14:19:06 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512521aaeab8eabe24000001
I really don't see range anxiety as the biggest draw-back. It's recycle time. Even the fastest charger requires one hour to get you back to around a 300 mile capacity. If you were to try a D.C. to L.A. road trip, the distance is around 2700 miles and would take you about 40 hrs in a standard vehicle (rounding all the numbers). With an electric's 270 mile range, you're adding a minimum of ten hours to make that same trip. That's a significant increase. What are you going to do for those ten hours? And for anyone wanting to make the argument of that not being a good example of using the vehicle; that's pretty much the point, isn't it? It should be. To get in your car and go where you want when you want is *exactly* the example you want for using it. Unless you're going to relegate it to being the grocery-shopping, kids to school economy vehicle, that's exactly the example that needs to be used. And at current price points, that's not the car they're selling.
As far as a vast infrastructure of charging stations go, I think there's going to be an issue with those as well. Right now, the average gas station stop lasts what - 5 minutes? The typical station these days has at least ten pumps. So on a high-volume day, they can probably serve 100 cars per hour. A similar electric station, with all fast-charge units, will service ten. Few operators are going to tie up large, valuable real-estate for such low volume sales. Something tells me that away-from-home charging is going to cost a *lot* more than most people think.
And yes, there is a slight economic envy to watching my neighbor put $10 of electricity in is vehicle after I just filled mine for $100. But then, at the 270 mile mark, when I've finished my 5-minute fill-up and he's sitting at the station watching ads on Gas Station TV for the 15th time with another 55 minutes to go... I think that envy will subside.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125215969bedda21d000020MuffWed, 20 Feb 2013 14:17:45 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125215969bedda21d000020
Charge anxiety: That's our story and we're sticking to it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51251ad669beddc50a00000ftheforgottenmanWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:49:58 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51251ad669beddc50a00000f
I can see the quality in your post...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125199669beddb70a000008Don LoganWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:44:38 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125199669beddb70a000008
...but but BI is so EPIC!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512519346bb3f73a6c000004Fuel cell powered vehicles in developmentWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:43:00 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512519346bb3f73a6c000004
.
It's not just you, many see this but "enviros" see reality through a different lens than others and they just want electric battery powered cars so much that what you have pointed out and what the NYT article points out is ignored or rationalized away.
According to the inventor of the Prius he can't see all electric gaining wide appeal and states that the fuel-cell is the next step to follow "hybrids" --and Toyota is in development and testing stage of that now.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512518236bb3f7426a000003TheyDontMakeEngineersAnyMoreWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:38:27 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512518236bb3f7426a000003
First, let's separate out whether electric cars have a bright future to that of Tesla. Tesla makes electric vehicle does not mean Tesla represents electric vehicle. Tesla is really a marketing / hype-generating company, built more on clever slogans and silly personality-cult-worshipping of its founder than anything else, with their products aimed specifically at gullible Nouveau Riche with money to burn. Despite the prices, their cars never incorporate the proper features that will best leverage the advantage of electric propulsion. For example, Tesla cars still have transmissions!! To make a truly efficient electric car with state-of-the-art yet market-ready technologies, the car should have:
1. Battery pack formed as part of the stress-bearing structure. This will provide significant weight saving.
2. In-wheel Motors / Generators for better distribution of weight and balance.
Tesla cars lack neither of these.
Regarding range concerns, eventually fuel cell technologies will catch up which will significantly close the gap between convention vehicle and electric ones.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512517c36bb3f7d967000010Hybrid indeedWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:36:51 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512517c36bb3f7d967000010
Might want to check with the railroad industry. Many cargo trains, and the AutoTrain, use diesel-electric engines: diesel engine generates electricity to power the electric motors that actually drive the train.
So their "range anxiety" would come from whether they are going to run out of gas (diesel).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51251752ecad04147700000cRogerWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:34:58 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51251752ecad04147700000c
That's kind of a split-the-difference value. Charge times vary depending on so many different variables, but I think 3hrs is about right for a middle grade charger. Slow chargers take over night and the fast chargers take about an hour (although I'd be curious to see the long term impact of repeated fast charging on the batteries). But even an hour is a lot of time to kill just just to be able to use your car again.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125145969bedd527a000006simpleWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:22:17 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125145969bedd527a000006
that's not anxiety you feel. it's guilt because you've been foolish enough to let the range get to 10 miles remaining. it's anxiety when you drive an electric car and you have 10 miles remaining.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512514296bb3f79665000001ToddRLockwoodWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:21:29 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512514296bb3f79665000001
Tesla's battery pack does not "die" — it simply runs out of electricity, just like a gas tank runs out of gasoline. And like any gas-powered car, the Model S will consume its "fuel" more quickly if you drive faster or in very cold temperatures. What Valdes-Dapena and LeBeau experienced (mild range anxiety) is typical of a first-time EV driver. Had they spent a few more days with the Model S, those imagined concerns would have disappeared.
While it's true that two of the Superchargers on this route are 200 miles apart, there are dozens of other chargers located along the way that could easily fill in, if necessary. The Model S comes with a charging adapter to allow connection to generic car charging stations.
As a practical matter, most Model S owners will rarely use on-the-road charging. They will simply charge every night in their own garage, giving the car a 265 mile range each day—more than enough for most commuters.
Some people have trouble getting their head around the idea of an electric car. But when they see their neighbor filling his Tesla with $10 of electricity while they're spending $100 on gasoline, that's when they'll see the light. Energy experts predict that 80% of the cars on American roads will be electric in 20 years. Energy cost savings will be the driver.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512512bbeab8ea9b7f000001Challenges of mass appealWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:15:23 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512512bbeab8ea9b7f000001
At the income level of Tesla owners they may well have access to a garage and therefore it could work for them, but all electric battery powered-only vehicles for the masses is more challenging as many (or possibly most) in cities like San Francisco, Chicago, New York, etc. live in apartments and if they own a car they park on the street wherever they can find an open space and that parking location varies each day and can be blocks away.
Could work as an hourly or daily rental and kept in a private or commercial garage.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125125769beddf874000010sickWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:13:43 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125125769beddf874000010
New models should stick to the Hybrid Electric/Petrol engine.
Wait for the infrastructure to be up and then you can have the complete switch to Electric.
The only thing stopping this from happening is the oil companies. They must be lobbying very hard for the govt not to build infrastructures supporting electric cars and not destroying the climate that much.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512511a26bb3f7245f000003Mike WalkerWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:10:42 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512511a26bb3f7245f000003
1. Mine Coal and transport it.
2. Burn it to make electricity.
3. Transport electricity hundreds of miles losing x% over the wires
4. Store electricity in batteries that lose x%
Is it just me, or do electric cars seem like the opposite of 'green'.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125114ceab8ea707a00000dvroooooomWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:09:16 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5125114ceab8ea707a00000d
fisker karma!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512510db6bb3f7aa5a00000cBlizzardloverWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:07:23 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512510db6bb3f7aa5a00000c
Wow. Didn't realize you had to wait that long. That's an a bigger issue.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51251078eab8ea6f7700000dBlizzardloverWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:05:44 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51251078eab8ea6f7700000d
Big deal. Make a gauge that tells you how far you can drive on the power you have. What am I missing? I'm assuming gas cars had the same issue at first before there were tons of gas stations. Henry calls FB crash and now he knows everything. LOL!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51251065eab8eaa27a0000aaRogerWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:05:25 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51251065eab8eaa27a0000aa
While you may feel some self-induced anxiety from your current vehicle in letting it get down to 10 miles before you start looking for a fill-up, there's a little more than that here. It's not simply a matter of 'is there a charging station up the road a little further' or 'do they take my preferred credit card'. There's also, 'What am I going to do in this strange town for the next three-plus hours while it charges'. That, for me, is the biggest draw back to these. I'm not a big fan of having to go see a movie or book a hotel room while I wait for my car to "refill".http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250c6f6bb3f7e551000009jolyyjonaWed, 20 Feb 2013 12:48:31 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250c6f6bb3f7e551000009
One thing that I think that is lost in all of these Supercharger test drives (and the obvious inconvenience of having to wait an hour for a full charge) is that this is not something people will be doing on a regular basis. You'd really only be using them for long, planned road trips. It's not as if Superchargers are the EV equivalent to a gas station. Nope. Your home garage where you keep your car charged every night is what replaces the gas station. How more convenient can you get than that? It'd be like having your own gas pump in your garage, always having your car ready to go with a full tank of gas.
So far a large majority of a Model S owner's driving, you'd never even go near a Supercharger or public EV charging station. And for those long road trips that require public charging, it's not as if there aren't other options if you truly couldn't tolerate the wait (using a 2nd car that happens to be an ICE, getting a rental, flying, etc.).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250c4c69beddfa6200000cChrisWed, 20 Feb 2013 12:47:56 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250c4c69beddfa6200000c
Electric cars have existed since the late 1800's. They still haven't caught on. If the world wants electric cars, the demand will have to increase, cost-to-produce will have to decrease, price-to-buy will have to come down, a recharging infrustructure will have to be built, and range will have to increase. Besides, with the increased use of electricity, more fossil fuels will have to be spent to produce the electricity to recharge these cars. Hippies all think that by switching to electric cars they are saving the environment. The truth is that recharging your car at home uses electricity, which is generated by power plants and the majority of America's power comes from dirty old coal.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250c17ecad048863000004SterlingWed, 20 Feb 2013 12:47:03 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250c17ecad048863000004
Volt...... Chevy already took care of this issue.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512504dcecad041052000018Read some historyWed, 20 Feb 2013 12:16:12 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512504dcecad041052000018
Battery powered electric cars were built and widely used right here in the U.S. in the early 1900's.
Due to the limitation factors of the batteries the internal combustion engine car was pereferred by the people and the electric battery powered car died out.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250318eab8ea4259000005Cars are too much for you to handleWed, 20 Feb 2013 12:08:40 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250318eab8ea4259000005
You need to sell your internal combustion engined vehicle and get a bicycle to lower your anxiety --do it today.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512501f9ecad04a351000006History of Transportation in AmericaWed, 20 Feb 2013 12:03:53 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512501f9ecad04a351000006
.
In the United States, after the horse and buggy came electric street cars followed by electric battery powered vehicles --both cars and trucks which were produced and used in the late 1800's and early 1900's and were the predominate means of vehicle transportation until the internal combustion engine was perfected and the people chose the internal combustion engine vehicles –-which resulted in sales of electric powered vehicles falling off and then ceasing production entirely.
Some of the unique batteries that were invented by Thomas Edison for those early electric vehicles are currently being studied at Stanford University for possible use today.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512500e1eab8ea9356000007sfdWed, 20 Feb 2013 11:59:13 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/512500e1eab8ea9356000007
This post cites "range anxiety" as a big problem facing Tesla. Ok, but range anxiety is exactly what you expect new drivers for a non-petrol fueled car to experience, until they get used to it. I have no doubt the anxiety will diminish after several month of experience driving the model S. Why would people expect otherwise. Also, it's odd that reporters have described Musk's brief comments (from a 2 short tweets and a short factual blogpost) as "voluble" and an "epic war of words." It seems to me Musk has been brief and to the point. He's also doing his job in calling out bogus claims.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250086ecad04894d000002André Kenji De SousaWed, 20 Feb 2013 11:57:42 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/51250086ecad04894d000002
Taking pictures had a popular appeal since the 1800´s.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124ffdaeab8ea295100000ctheforgottenmanWed, 20 Feb 2013 11:54:50 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124ffdaeab8ea295100000c
I see Henry hires people with as much vision as he has...probably never thought talking pictures would have a mass market appeal either.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124feaf69bedd0545000001dwindhWed, 20 Feb 2013 11:49:51 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124feaf69bedd0545000001
My gas combustion engine car still gives me anxiety in the same way. I have it set to estimate the remaining range left in miles in how much gas I have. It's an estimate, and fluctuates based on how efficiently I drive. Just because I get 400 miles for a full tank, and there are fill up stations everywhere, I still get anxious when I have less than 10 miles left. Maybe the gas station isn't on my way. Maybe the station with my card account (exxon card) is further than the brands I don't use. No matter the reason I still get anxious.
This is a product of seeing a number count down to zero, and that there are fewer charging stations than gas fill-ups. Once the infrastructure is deployed a little more, and the default range display setting is in percent of the total, then the anxiety will be much less.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124fc5a69bedd0e3f000001maxmaxmaxWed, 20 Feb 2013 11:39:54 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124fc5a69bedd0e3f000001
Why this can't go to mass market? Simple. It's not targeted at the mass market. Check out the price first. They claim they want to build the best sedan. The mass market has never been able to afford the 'best sedan', be it Cadillac, BMW or Lexus.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124fb89ecad04b144000006wei-min chuWed, 20 Feb 2013 11:36:25 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124fb89ecad04b144000006
We used horses for transportation. They have limited range. Need long periods to rest and refuel between trips. And can't be parked outside in extreme weather. To solve these problems, we invented the automobile with the internal-combustion engine. Now come electric cars. They have limited range. They need long periods to recharge between trips. And can't be parked outside in extreme weather.
Consumers are not going to dump their gas-powered cars for electric. Rich folks will continue to buy horses and electric cars. Horses for fun, electric cars for carpool stickers.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124fab6ecad04734200000bDOAWed, 20 Feb 2013 11:32:54 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5124fab6ecad04734200000b
Business Insider is embarrassing to watch.